The Lyle School Board decided at its meeting Monday to think about its options for renovation to Lyle Public School and make a decision Aug. 20.

The facilities committee gave the board three options: do nothing or choose between two renovation plans. The committee also recommended that the school board go with "Scheme No. 3" over "Scheme No. 2"

"Scheme No. 2" would keep the elementary wing and demolish the three-story structure. This plan was estimated at a cost of $9.9 million.

"Scheme No. 3" would demolish the elementary wing and the three-story structure and was estimated at $11.1 million.

Both plans add an additional competition gymnasium and leave room for expansion. Each plan would hold 300 students.

Advantages to the "Scheme No. 2" over "Scheme No. 3" include retaining the parking lot on the north side of the school and keeping the current bus garage.

But this plan will take three years to complete and will interrupt classroom instruction, said Superintendent Jerry Reshetar. Students and faculty may have to find another location for classes at some point during the construction, he said. Students would also have to eat in one of the gymnasiums.

Also, the elementary school rooms would remain at the same size, which is smaller than the state standard. The rooms are about 730 square feet, but should be around 880, Reshetar said.

The electrical and mechanical expenses to remodel the elementary area are also quite high.

In "Scheme No. 3" the elementary classrooms could be remodeled to fit state standards. The construction would not significantly interrupt classroom time because they could build the new section, move into it and then demolish the old section.

The new plan would create a commons area for school lunches so that a gym would not be used. The new plan also includes peaked roofs.

This plan is more expensive and would shift the parking to the south side of the school. The bus garage would have to be rebuilt, which the architect estimated at $260,000. However the committee members think the cost could be reduced significantly.

Then the facilities committee explained the bond options for financing the plan. The committee recommended the board go with "Scheme No. 3" and a 25-year bond.

The board estimated the bonds at a 5.3 percent interest rate. Currently Lyle's tax rate is 39 percent. Financing the school would raise it to between 60 and 70 percent. Lyle residents would pick up about 60 percent of the cost while the state picks about 30.

"I think people are very positive about aspects of the new school, the prospects of a new school, but the bottom line is how much will this cost," Reshetar said.

Reshetar used a home with a $40,000 value to show each plan would affect taxes based on whether the bond lasts for 20 or 25 years:

n "Scheme No. 2" for 20 years -- increase of $263

n "Scheme No. 2" for 25 years -- increase of $242

n "Scheme No. 3" for 20 years -- increase of $288

n "Scheme No. 3" for 25 years -- increase of $263

Those living on farms would be most affected. For example, a farm valued between $40,000 and $60,000 could have to pay between $1,000 to $2,000 more.

"It's a significant amount of money," Reshetar said. "It's the farmers who I'm concerned about. They bear the brunt of the plan.

Once the board decides on a plan, they will need to come up with ways to inform the taxpayers about the need for the renovation, Reshetar said.

"They also need to understand: what is the cost of not doing anything?" Reshetar said.

Enrollment in the school has been going up in the last two years while many rural schools are seeing decline in enrollment. The new school may help retain enrollment. Reshetar said if the school can have at least six new students enroll each year, it should be fine.

Facilities committee member Ron Frank said without the new building, Lyle eventually may have to consolidate with another school. Without the school, the town as a whole would be affected, he said.

"This is our industry in this town for our total employees," Frank said. "This is a growth industry."

Board member Dwight DeBoer agreed, saying that in a community without its own school, "there's nothing left."

The board will meet at 7 p.m. Aug. 20 to decide on a plan.

Boxes that detail plans:

Box 1

Scheme No. 2

"Scheme No. 2" would demolish all three story structures, the cafeteria built in 1933 and the 1906 building. The elementary building would be remodeled, as well as the rooms near the gymnasium and the athletic fields. The following would be built new:

n high school classrooms

n middle school classrooms

n music, science, industrial arts, family and consumer life science, art, gym and locker rooms.

Estimated cost: $9.9 million

Box 2

Scheme No. 3

"Scheme No. 3" would demolish all three-story structures, the 1933 cafeteria, the 1906 building and the elementary wing. The industrial arts, art and weight rooms and athletic fields would be renovated. The following would also be constructed:

n high school classrooms

n middle school classrooms

n elementary rooms

n music science, and family and consumer science rooms

n media center and computer labs

n bus garage

Estimated cost: $11.1 million